Just days after his inauguration, new Gov. Jerry Brown has a quick opportunity to dust off his once controversial judge-picking skills and name a justice to one of the most influential state Supreme Courts in the country.

California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, 62, the sole Democrat and Latino on the state’s high court, submitted his letter of resignation to Brown this week, informing the governor he would retire from the court on Feb. 28.

In an interview with the Mercury News on Thursday, the soft-spoken Moreno said the “time seemed right” to move on, citing Brown’s election, reaching full judicial pension eligibility and being young enough to still explore lucrative options in the private sector.

Moreno’s departure comes on the heels of the retirement this month of Chief Justice Ronald George, who has been replaced by new Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. The two moves could usher in one of the most significant shifts on the court in decades, with Brown in position to fill Moreno’s seat and perhaps others in the coming years on an aging Supreme Court.

The governor will be under pressure to replace Moreno with either a Latino or an African-American; there currently are no African-American justices on the court, and San Francisco appeals court Justice Martin Jenkins, a former federal judge, is already being circulated as a potential candidate.

Gerald Uelmen, a Santa Clara University law professor, said it might take six months to find that replacement but predicts Brown’s emphasis on diversity is likely to mean he’ll tap a minority for Moreno’s seat.

For his part, Moreno said he would urge Brown to replace him with a Latino.

“If he asks for my opinion, I think he should do whatever he can that a Latino replaces me on the court,” Moreno said.

There did not appear to be any mystery to Moreno’s decision. Among other things, he has been living a commuter life, shuttling between his home in Los Angeles and the court’s San Francisco headquarters for years.

“I felt with so much transition in the air, the chief justice leaving, the change in administrations, I started looking at my own career and what else I’d like to do,” Moreno said. “It seemed exciting to try something new.”

Moreno has already been particularly active in trying to improve the state’s foster care system, and he is a foster parent himself. He made it clear he wants to continue civic work and become more active politically, which is virtually forbidden for a Supreme Court justice.

Cantil-Sakauye said she was “saddened” by Moreno’s resignation, adding she expected to serve with him for at least another decade. But, she said in a statement, “I am happy for him because his future is filled with possibilities.”

Moreno has been a justice since 2001, when he was named to the Supreme Court by former Gov. Gray Davis. He has been perhaps the most liberal justice on the conservative court, particularly on social issues such as same-sex marriage. Two years ago, he was the only justice on the court who voted to invalidate Proposition 8, the state’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

In a long legal career, Moreno joined the Supreme Court after serving as a federal judge in Los Angeles. Former President Bill Clinton appointed him to the federal bench in 1998.

More recently, Moreno was on a shortlist for the U.S. Supreme Court when the Obama administration was considering vacancies and was interviewed by the president.

Moreno grew up in a poor family in East Los Angeles, the son of Mexican immigrants. He forged a success story by attending Yale University and Stanford Law School and becoming a successful lawyer and eventually one of the state’s judicial leaders.

For Brown, it will be a chance to fill a state Supreme Court spot for the first time since his first tenure as governor ended in 1983. That was marked by the ill-fated choice of former Chief Justice Rose Bird, who was later ousted by voters, along with two other Brown appointees, in a backlash over their refusal to uphold death sentences.

On Thursday, Brown released a statement simply saying he “intends to fill Justice Moreno’s seat with a candidate who is equally knowledgeable, thoughtful and judicious.”

While Brown’s judicial selections are still expected to be liberal, experts have predicted he will take a more cautious approach to choosing justices this time around. In fact, in an interview in October during the governor’s race, Brown told the Mercury News he “has learned from the past” on judicial appointments.

Contact Howard Mintz at 408-286-0236.

The California Supreme Court’s roster

With Carlos Moreno’s looming retirement, there could be other slots to fill for Gov. Jerry Brown on an aging high court over the next four years.

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye

At 51, she is going nowhere, having just taken over as chief justice this week and is the youngest member of the court. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named her last year to succeed longtime Chief Justice Ronald George.

Justice Joyce Kennard

The longest-serving member of the court, Kennard, 69, has given no hints of stepping down. But she has had some health concerns and, despite being an appointee of former Republican Gov. George Deukmejian, is one of the court’s more liberal members.

Justice Marvin Baxter

Baxter, who turns 70 next week, is one of the court’s elder statesmen and arguably its most conservative member. A staunch Republican, it would be hard to see him letting Brown fill his seat. But he is eligible for his judicial pension.

Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar

At 74, Werdegar is the court’s eldest justice, even though she appears as spry during arguments as her colleagues. Hard to say whether this centrist appointee of former Gov. Pete Wilson would step down after 16 years and give her post up to a Brown selection.

Justice Ming Chin

The 68-year-old Chin is considered, along with Baxter, one of the court’s most reliable conservative voices. He has overcome serious health problems, including 2006 surgery on his skull. The former Alameda County prosecutor and judge could be among the justices mulling a move.

Justice Carol Corrigan

Corrigan is the court’s second newest member and would appear to be on the court for the long haul. The 62-year-old Corrigan, another Schwarzenegger appointee, has only been on the court for five years.